Hearty New Orleans Creole Gumbo - Family-Favorite Dish

Ingredients

• ¾ cup bacon grease
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 large onion, roughly diced
• 1 large green bell pepper, roughly diced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 (10-ounce) packages thawed frozen okra
• 1 pound crabmeat, lump style
• 1 pound smoked andouille sausage, cut into rounds
• 3 pounds raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 quarts of water
• 6 beef bouillon cubes
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can of stewed tomatoes
• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce (like Tabasco)
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 4 teaspoons ground file powder, split
• ½ teaspoon Cajun spice mix (like Tony Chachere's)
• 4 bay leaves
• Salt as needed